Framingham Police Officer Seriously Hurt In Head-On Crash
FRAMINGHAM (CBS) – A Framingham police officer was seriously hurt in a head-on crash overnight while responding to an out-of-control house party.
Investigators say the car that collided head-on with the officer's truck was apparently coming from that party.
The unidentified officer was working a detail late Thursday night, when a call came in from officers asking for backup at the party on Brooks Street.
The officer "took it upon himself, his own initiative, to respond to that party call to assist the officers calling for help," Framingham Police Chief Kenneth Ferguson said.
As he was heading to the scene in his red pickup truck, a car entered his lane and hit his vehicle head-on at the corner of Edgell Road and Central Street.
Both the officer and the other driver were airlifted to hospitals with serious injuries.
The #Framingham police chief says he visited his officer in the hospital and he was talking and in good spirits, despite suffering serious injuries in a head-on collision overnight. #wbz pic.twitter.com/CSz9LhsN6U
— Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) February 9, 2018
The officer, who is relatively new to the Framingham Police Department, has a serious leg injury but is expected to recover, according to Ferguson, who rushed to the officer's bedside after the crash.
"I commended him for his actions," Ferguson said. "He said, 'Chief, I did what any officer would have done.'"
The officers calling for help had been trying to break up the large house party. Ferguson said hundreds of people were there and some turned violent.
"Fights began to break out and it began to get out of control," he said.
Red solo cup by front door at home a Framingham State student rented through Airbnb. Court papers say police used pepper spray to control hundreds. Framingham Chief thinks someone leaving crashed into officer responding, injuring him #wbz pic.twitter.com/GlML4iA4vy
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) February 9, 2018
Two people were arrested at the house party.
Devante Santiago, 23, of Hyde Park, was charged with disorderly conduct. Keith Worthy, 21, of Springfield, is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.
Both were arraigned Friday in Framingham District Court.
After his arraignment, Worthy, a Framingham State University student, said "more people showed up" than expected to his 21st birthday party. He said he rented out the Brooks Street house on Airbnb for the night of his party.
"It got a little out of hand. More people showed up that I expected and next thing I know, I'm in jail for no reason," Worthy said.
According to court documents, Worthy chest-bumped officers, wrestled on the icy ground outside the home, and refused to get up.
Santiago said, "I got arrested for speaking my mind."
Worthy called the accident involving the police officer "terrible."
"I feel terrible, obviously," Worthy said.
Some neighbors are now asking the city to stop allowing Airbnb rentals of the house where the party occurred.
"This is what happens when they do rent it out," one woman said.
In a statement, Airbnb Global Head of Trust and Risk Management Nick Shapiro said: "Our thoughts are with the brave officer who was injured, and we are reaching out to him to offer our support. What took place is unacceptable. We will work with the police on their investigation and fully cooperate to help ensure justice is served."